Open Market, Jerusalem
John 6:30-35
I had the opportunity this past Saturday to reconnect with my altar servers and help them prepare to return to serving Mass. In the past 13 months or so, I was keenly aware of how much they missed their ministry. So from time to time, I stayed in touch with them by dropping off goodie bags filled with chocolate chip cookies, zucchini chocolate muffins and, of course, samplings of my zucchini bread.
So when we met, I told them that now we are back in the swing of things, I won’t have to do any more deliveries of baked goodies! One eighth grader immediately piped up “You mean, now we have to start making our own zucchini bread?”
Yes, there has been a lot of baking going on at Deacon Bill’s house over the past year or so. I even included baking bread to my list! Even now, I am making 2 loaves every week! It’s meticulous, time-consuming work but oh so rewarding. But I admit I had to work my way up to baking bread with a lot of trial and mostly error!
Well, so much for yesterday’s budding faith that the crowd following Jesus seemed to be showing. Today it becomes obvious – all they are interested in is another miracle – give us another meal, give us more bread like Moses did with manna in the desert. It’s like they are a group of little kids in front of a magician – ooh, cool, do it again! Oh wait, I think I already said that yesterday. Jesus’ response, however, is not one of action, but of words. I am the Bread of Life! Your fathers had manna from heaven in the desert but I am giving the Bread of Eternal Life!
Jesus offers us the Bread of Life, His own Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We know that, in order to attain eternal life, it is going to take work, effort, prayer, good works, time and a lot of patience, especially with ourselves. But it is worth the effort, right? We all spent months separated from our family and friend! Those long months were also a painful separation from the Mass and from reception of the Eucharist. As we slowly transition back to some sense of normal liturgical services, let us spend time with God in prayer and meditation. May we stop looking for quick, easy miracles like the crowd in today’s Gospel. Set aside time for just you and God. And be patient! Give yourself the time for your faith to grow and rise. And don’t be so anxious and worried about how things will turn out! And remember that God is here and He has the words, the Bread, of eternal life!
I pray that, as we return to Mass on a regular basis, we do so with a deeper reverence and gratitude for the gift of Jesus’ Body and Blood!